Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha
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After the interesting discourse, the Devil-king, who is in charge of the longevity of people's lives, rose up from the assembly and spoke to Shakyamuni Buddha,
"My honoured of the World, it is my duty to be in charge of the longevity of human beings in the human world, either during their life-time or after their death. It is my earnest wish to bring benefit and happiness to human beings, but I observe with sadness that many of the human beings do not realise my intention to relieve them. As a result, evil ones are not at peace during their life-time or after their death. When people in this human world are expecting birth of a boy or girl, they should practise meritorious deeds, for such good deeds bring benefit and happiness to the family. My followers and spirits of that place will not only protect both the mother and the newly-born child, but will bestow upon them and their relatives great peace and happiness joyfully. -
For this reason, when a child is born to a family, it is desirable not to kill any animals as supplement for any tonic to the mother, or to invite friends or relatives in the child's honour by offering or entertaining them with wine, meat and music. Such ways of celebrating the birth of a child will never bring happiness to both the mother and the child.
For when a pregnant woman is ready for delivery of her child, there are numerous evil devils seen by the side of the mother to suck her blood. In order to safeguard the mother, I usually order the spirit of that place to come and protect the mother and child and to bring them peace and happiness.
When the mother and child are at peace after birth, they should make offerings to the spirits to express their gratitude for the protection given. If, instead of offering to the spirits, friends and relatives are entertained by the killing of animals, both the mother and the newly-born child will suffer punishment. -
When a person in this human world is nearing death, I always try my best to relieve this dying person, irrespective of whether the being is a good or evil person, from being cast into the evil State. If this dying person has been doing good deeds during his or her life-time, my power of relieving him or her will be successful.
Even in the case of a person who has done good deeds throughout his life, there may be innumerable evil spirits in the form of their past parents or relatives to tempt the dying person to the evil State of suffering. If the dying person has done bad deeds during his life, these evil spirits will no doubt be successful in arresting him or her to the State of suffering. -
Honoured of the World, if people in the Samsara world, either male or female, be seen unconscious during their moment of death when they cannot distinguish the good from the bad, and at such a moment they will not be able to see or hear, that is the time for the relatives of this dying person to chant the Sutra and to make offerings to the images of the Buddha, as well as the Bodhisattva, for these good deeds will help to drive away the evil spirits. The Buddha and the Bodhisattva will keep the dying person away from the evil State.
Honoured of the World, if all dying persons have an opportunity of hearing only the name of one Buddha or one Bodhisattva, or the chanting of the Sutra, or even the chanting of one sentence or one poem of any Sutra, I can assure you that these dying persons will be kept away from the five Avici Hells. If a dying person has committed only small evil deeds which will cause him to be cast into the evil State for punishment, he will be relieved upon hearing the name of the Buddha or Bodhisattva, or even the chanting of the Sutra." -
Shakyamuni Buddha then told the Devil-king who is in charge of Birth and Death by saying,
"It is very kind of you to make such a strong vow with your Infinite Loving Kindness to protect human beings, male or female, during their life-time or after death. I earnestly hope that you will try your best to carry out your vow without any retreat, so that you will be able to relieve all these erring beings to Salvation and to bring them everlasting happiness.''
The Devil-king who is in charge of Birth and Death said,
"Please do not be worried, for I shall continuously try my utmost to protect the beings in the Samsara world, both at the moment of their birth and at the moment of their death, and thus enabling them to be in peace and happiness. I strongly look forward to the occasion when all human beings will listen to my words so as to achieve real Salvation and to attain great benefit." -
At that time, Shakyamuni Buddha told Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, "This Devil King of Birth and Death has been a great King of Devils for many thousands of lives. He has done his best to protect human beings at their moment of birth and at their moment of death.
In fact, he is not a devil, as so supposed to be, but out of compassion and great Infinite Loving Kindness, he transformed himself into the form of a devil. He will attain Buddhahood after one hundred and seventy kalpas by the name of Nirlaksana Buddha. He will live a long life for countless and happy kalpas in a world named Purity.
The story of this great King of Devils is beyond thought or description and persons converted by him are also unaccountable.'' -
Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha
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Di Zhang Wang Pusa -
Namo Di Zhang Wang Pusa.....
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Namo Di Zhang Wang Pusa.....
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This is AWESOME! Keep going......
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Thus learned,
There's a great phenomenon in Ksitigarbha Sutra, where 5 Great Bodhisattva (Ksitigarbha, Manjushiri, Guan Shi Yin, Samantabhadra, and Xu Kong Zhang Pu sa) appeared to indicate a special meaning. One of them is Himself Ksitigarbha represent the foremost in vow. And that Ksitigarbha's wisdom surpassed Manjushiri; compassion surpassed Guan yin; conduct surpassed Samantabhadra; virtue surpassed Xu Kong Zhang Pu sa!
know how many Buddhas He had helped attained already! that's infinity merits! yet He's still doing it. Ksitigarbha really had become a Buddha long time ago. Due to His 'thunder' samathi to withstand 'hellish' suffering, He can remain as a bodhisattva stage.
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WowOriginally posted by sinweiy:Thus learned,
There's a great phenomenon in Ksitigarbha Sutra, where 5 Great Bodhisattva (Ksitigarbha, Manjushiri, Guan Shi Yin, Samantabhadra, and Xu Kong Zhang Pu sa) appeared to indicate a special meaning. One of them is Himself Ksitigarbha represent the foremost in vow. And that Ksitigarbha's wisdom surpassed Manjushiri; compassion surpassed Guan yin; conduct surpassed Samantabhadra; virtue surpassed Xu Kong Zhang Pu sa!
know how many Buddhas He had helped attained already! that's infinity merits! yet He's still doing it. Ksitigarbha really had become a Buddha long time ago. Due to His 'thunder' samathi to withstand 'hellish' suffering, He can remain as a bodhisattva stage.
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moreover,
u know how long Ksitigarbha has maintained the position of the Tenth Bhumni?!
"Buddha told Manjushri, "As an analogy, it is as if in the thousands of worlds, all the grasses, trees, bushes, straw, hemp, bamboo, reeds, mountains, stones, dust and every object is made into the Ganges River. And each grain of sand in the Ganges River becomes a great world. And each speck of dust in each world is compared to an aeon. And within those aeons the specks of dust that would accumulate would also become aeons. Increase this amount a thousand times and this is how long Ksitigarbha has maintained the position of the Tenth Ground - the highest ground or position that a Bodhisattva can reach! "
..and it had not stated the other stages, it's already so long!!
And u know how many came to the preaching?
At that time, Buddha Sakyamuni asked Bodhisattva Manjushri, Mahasattva, "Do you know how many Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, heavenly beings, dragons, ghosts and gods from other lands and worlds are here in the Trayastrimsa Heaven for this instruction?" Manjushri answered, "World-Honored One, even using my divine power for thousands of aeons, I still would not be able to calculate how many are here." Buddha Sakyamuni said to Manjushri, "Even if I use my Buddha eye, I too cannot calculate them. These multitudes include all whom Bodhisattva Kishitigarbha has released, is releasing, and will release from suffering. That is, these multitudes include all living beings who live in the past, present and future!"
wow, even Buddha eye also cannot calculate!!
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will complete the sutras. once i finished them and a couple of other threads, i'll stop posting. there is NOTHING for me to cling onto. btw thanks everyone for going through the threads, its not beneficial for me which i don't care for myself. its more like beneficial for you all.Originally posted by concerned_man:This is AWESOME! Keep going...... -
Thank you so much for sharing with us the teachings of Buddha to readers in sgforums and ~ Buddhism: Wisdom Bliss ~. It was a great effort and I believe many people will benefit from your effort. Do continue to drop by to discuss in our forum after you have finish posting on your threads.Originally posted by paperflower:will complete the sutras. once i finished them and a couple of other threads, i'll stop posting. there is NOTHING for me to cling onto. btw thanks everyone for going through the threads, its not beneficial for me which i don't care for myself. its more like beneficial for you all. -
NamoDiZhangWangPuSa
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namo di zhang wang pusa.....
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Ksitigarbha Sutra 9
The Recitation of the Buddhas' Names
At that time, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva said to Shakyamuni Buddha, "Honoured of the World, let me now declare how human beings in the future will acquire great benefit and happiness, during their life-time and at the moment of their death. I anticipate you to be congenial enough to listen to me."
Shakyamuni Buddha then disclosed to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, "It is because of your compassionate Infinite Loving Kindness that you long to assert about a possible tendency of relieving all the erring beings from the six States of reincarnation. Of course, it is the proper time now. Please speak promptly, as I am about to enter Nirvana. I wish to bless you with success in discharging the strong vow, so that I shall have no worry about human beings in the future."
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva told the Exalted Buddha, "Honoured of the World, I name below a list of Buddhas for your hearing - -
1. Ananta, (Immeasurable) Buddha
Innumerable kalpas ago, there was a Buddha by the name of Ananta (Immeasurable) Buddha. Any male or female, who has a chance of listening to the name of this Buddha, even only entertaining a short thought of respect for him, will enable one to escape forty kalpas of Suffering from Birth and Death. People will attain infinite happiness if he or she makes images of this Buddha, gives offerings and to admire him. -
2. Precious Nature Buddha
Again, innumerable kalpas ago, there was a Buddha by the name of Precious Nature. Any male or female, who has a chance of listening to this Buddha and creates a thought of respect towards him, will finally attain Buddhahood. -
3. Padmapani Buddha
Again, there was a Buddha by the name of Padmapani, one of the forms of Avalokitesvara, holding a lotus. Any male or female, who has the opportunity of listening to the name of this Buddha will merit by a rebirth in the six Deva Lokas (i.e. Heaven of Desire) for one thousand times and be within the bliss of Buddhahood. -
4. Simhananda Buddha
Innumerable kalpas ago, there was a Buddha by the name of Simhananda Buddha (a term designating authoritative or powerful approach). Any male or female, who is within the chance of listening to the name of this Buddha and thinks of him with deep respect, will benefit in the meeting of countless Buddhas with their blessings, by finally attaining Buddhahood. -
5. Krakucchanda Buddha
Again, there was a Buddha by the name of Krakucchanda (the first of the Buddhas of the present Bhadrakalpa, the fourth of the seven ancient Buddhas). Any male or female, who has a chance of listening to the name of this Buddha, and be of earnest respect to him by admiring him, will become Mahabrahmanas at an assembly of one thousand Buddhas during the Bhadrakalpa. With blessings from this Buddha, he or she will attain Buddhahood later. One can get better merit if one chants the name of this Buddha earnestly.